Classic Rum Cocktails Mixology Session -- 2014 Food & Wine Festival

*This Mixology session took place on September 25, 2014 at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.I've long wanted to attend a mixology session at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival and for some reason they have alluded me. I'm not sure if it's because the ones offered haven't appealed to me or the alcohol was not safe for me to consume on the dates I could attend. Either way, I was excited this year to attend the Classic Rum Cocktails Mixology session with John Meisler from Don Q Rum.The demo featured 3 samples of classic rum cocktails, including a daiquiri (featuring Don Q Caliche Rum), a pina colada (which was gluten free and dairy free, score one for me!) and a drink called the Swizzle #9.Before we got a chance to sample our drinks, John Meisler talked to us a little bit about the Don Q brand and his background in food and beverage. You can catch some clips of this session on my YouTube channel. Here's one from his intro:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0vz8vH9MAAfter some background, we then got to make (and taste) our first drink, the classic daiquiri. This was delicious. Fresh, light, and super easy to make. Why I don't make these at home is beyond me!Our next drink was the Swizzle #9. This was a bit spicy with a touch of nutmeg. It made me think of the holidays, and it seems like a drink that would work well both hot and cold (it was served cold to us).The final drink was the pina colada. This is another one of those, "Why don't I make this at home?" drinks. It made me think of a tropical getaway, or at least my Disney Cruise Line vacation and Castaway Cay.The session itself was about an hour. And like Captain Jack Sparrow, I found myself asking, "But why is the rum gone?!" when the session ended. The drinks were delicious and the tips were really helpful. I also enjoyed John Meisler's witty banter and his wealth of food and beverage knowledge.With one mixology session under my belt, I'm ready to try some more, although this may be the only one I get to this season. If you get a chance, I highly recommend these!Have you been to a Food & Wine Festival special event? Which ones are your favorite?